Playlist: Fundraising Soundbank

Pledge Drives take a lot of work and planning...but we can make your life easier! Below you'll find pledge spots that are ready to air or you can scan for spots that will inspire you to produce versions that make sense for your local station.

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Host Al Letson shares audio of everyday residents from around the country facing incredible odds, becoming unlikely activists, and how supporting your station can help ensure powerful stories get told.

In this fundraising spot, This I Believe host Jay Allison introduces listeners to Mary Cook of Gustavus, Alaska. She describes how the death of her fiance helped her appreciate the support of her friends and her community. Cook says public radio provides a quiet space to explore the things that matter most in our lives.
(This I Believe producers are available to help pitch during your next drive. Call 502-259-9889 for details. Also, visit VisAbility.com for This I Believe fundraising premiums.)

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You’re an public radio fan. You wouldn’t deny it, heck you’re probably proud to be so. You love Terry Gross’sinterviews, and Planet Money's lucid explanations of financial policies; Scott Horsely is your man at the White House, and Susan Stamberg finds the most interesting cultural stories. You listen all the time and take it all on board and love it…and then the fund drives come along.

And suddenly this pane of glass goes up between us, you know we’re there, you can sense we’re talking, you just don’t hear us as well. And we’re like…like Dustin Hoffman at the end of The Graduate, we’re pounding on the glass trying to get your attention. And you, you’re Elaine, you’re looking at us trying to recognize us…then you’re staring at us wondering why we’re there…but of course we’re there you’re about to make the biggest mistake of your life, and we couldn’t let you do that. You’re about to perpetuate the status quo. And we know – better even than you do – that that won’t make you happy.

You know which way happiness lies, we’re just here to remind you. You know that you’ve got to follow your heart. So what do you do? Well, you know how the movie ends…

Radiolab host Jad Abumrad hears from some Radiolab listeners, including Pretty In Pink's Molly Ringwald, and plays a couple excerpts from Radiolab to help him make the case for supporting your local public radio station.

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Y’know, it’s kind of funny. One of the reasons you listen to public radio, one of the reasons you love public radio is because of the individual attention. All year, it feels like Scott Simon and Jad Abumrad and Diane Rehm and Robin Young are all talking to you. Not standing at a podium shouting to the masses, they’re next to you talking in your ear. And you hang on their words, you can’t get enough of them, you come back every day, week after week to find out what else they have to tell you...And then the fund drive comes along.

And Scott and Jad and Diane and Robin…they’re all still talking to you. But suddenly you think we’re talking to someone else. And every year, we try to find new and effective ways of convincing you that we are indeed talking to you during these drives. And each year we get a few more converts. But what if just this once, everyone listening right now called right now with a donation to this public radio station. What if you, because you’re listening right now, called right now.

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A fundraising version of Alec's fascinating interview with Lorne Michaels, cut to offer you three pledge breaks. Total running time *excluding breaks* is 39:09. Includes handoffs to local hosts. Stations may use the fundraiser *only* if they take all five Here's The Thing episodes. Cherry-picking is not permitted.

A fundraising version of Alec's fascinating interview with Lorne Michaels, cut to offer you three pledge breaks. Total running time *excluding breaks* is 39:09. Includes handoffs to local hosts. Stations may use the fundraiser *only* if they take all five Here's The Thing episodes. Cherry-picking is not permitted.

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Jad Abumrad of Radio Lab fame has created a lot of pledge spots including this one ready for air. He has also produced really good spots for WNYC which are worth checking out as an example of great pledge production.

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A montage of different public radio members explain why they joined their local station and why everyone who hasn't should. (Note, this piece is generic. Not generic boring. Generic in that anyone can use it.)

VO: It affects scores of people everyday...
Vox: I never thought it would happen to me...
VO: People all over the country are succumbing at alarming rates...
Vox: But then I found myself sitting in my car after I'd put it into park...just sitting there...
Vox: I haven't even told my husband about it.
Vox: I keep going back...
Vox: I keep wanting more...
Vox: I think my friends are starting to notice...
Vox: But I can?t stop, I need to keep listening...
VO: Have you been taking an inordinate interest in the platforms of the presidential candidates? Have you found yourself wondering about whether Ivory Billed Woodpecker sightings are hoaxes? If you recognize these symptoms then you might have Fabu-philitis an affliction marked by increased curiosity in the world around you, sympathy or even appreciation for terrible puns, and slackened interest in Britney Spears. Public Radio listeners are especially susceptible to Fabu-philitis. If you or someone you know has developed Fabu-philitis stay tuned for the number to call. We can't help, but we can ease the guilt a little.
Vox: I always thought it was something that happened to other people.

General InformationThis is a special fundraising edition of Sound Opinions hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot. This episode features Jim and Greg's discussion of the Weird Instruments of rock and roll. Jim and Greg have selected songs featuring instruments not traditionally used in pop music - the ocarina, the autoharp, the didgeridoo and more. They argue that these unusual and underappreciated instruments make these songs a success. Tracks include The Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb," Aphex Twin's "Digeridoo," Cat Power's "Sea of Love," and AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n' Roll)."

This program is certain to spark conversation and debate among listeners as much as it did Jim and Greg. There are 3 episode segments to be aired sequentially during the Sound Opinions hour Pitch time has been allotted.

General InformationThis is a special fundraising edition of Sound Opinions hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot. This episode features Jim and Greg's discussion of the Unsung Heroes of Rock and Roll. Jim and Greg have selected musicians that have contributed greatly to the history of popular music but don't get enough credit. These artists include Jerome Green, Augie Myers, Ben "Bosstone" Carr, Hal Blaine, John Paul Jones, James Jamerson, Ringo Starr, and Malcolm Young.

This program is certain to spark conversation and debate among listeners as much as it does Jim and Greg. There are 3 episode segments to be aired sequentially during the Sound Opinions hour. Pitch time has been allotted.Segments in this fundraising program include: Segment 1: SO_UnsungHeroes_Fundraiser_001: 11:00

In this excerpt from her This I Believe essay, composer and pianist Joan Tower talks the power of music, especially in her own life. Perfect for use during pledge drives, she hits many of the core values of classical music listeners.

In this excerpt from her This I Believe essay, composer and pianist Joan Tower talks about what music means to her. Perfect for use during pledge drives, she hits many of the core values of classical music listeners.

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For your Fundraising campaign, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman reminds your listeners of the power of music. He adds that "finding music that appeals to you is one of the greatest human discoveries," and that they're likely to find the music they love on Public Radio. Use this 59 second clip (with music) as a fundraising message during your classical music fundraising programming. Scroll down to read the Funder transcript and the Suggested Host Outro.

Use this Funder Spot during your Classical Music Fundraising, but especially before or after playing any performance by clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. For recording options, go to http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical.

FUNDER TRANSCRIPT "We all agree there's power in music - the power to inspire intense emotions, the power to make you think. Hello, I'm clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. Music can take you deep inside yourself like very few things on earth. Finding music that appeals to you is one of the greatest human discoveries. And you're likely to find your music here on Public Radio. Please support music, old and new, and the music yet to be written, by making a pledge. Here's how and thanks."

SUGGESTED HOST OUTRO Please call (insert station phone number), or you can make your contribution online at (insert station web address). Put the power of your contribution to work at (insert station name) so you can continue to discover and enjoy classical music everyday. Please call now.

(To download a .txt file of this suggested copy, click on the Attachments tab above.)

Additional fundraising messages are available from Virtuoso Voices(tm), an interview clip service for classical music stations, presenting today's preeminent classical music performers, conductors and composers talking in 15 to 35 second sound bites. These topical and evergreen clips enable announcers to bring an additional insider's perspective to the music they introduce and play on their shifts.

Virtuoso Voices(tm) is also Public Radio's primary source for classical music fundraising messages. Each month, subscribing stations receive at least two different fundraising spots read by the performers we interview. Twice a year, we provide your station with fully produced fundraising messages with options enabling you to customize each spot to the specific sound and fundraising terminology of your station.

The produced fundraising messages are distributed in February and September in advance of when most stations fundraise, including the nationally coordinated drive. Stations may request custom fundraising scripts read by the performers we interview. We fill these requests whenever possible and in the order in which they are received.

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For your fundraising campaign, this clips features violinist Hilary Hahn. She strives to give her audience more than just the gift of great music when she performs in concert. A transcript, Suggested Host Intro and Outro texts and music bed information are listed below.

Use this Funder Spot during your Classical Music Fundraising programming, and especially before or after playing a performance by Hilary Hahn. Music Options for before or after the spot are listed below. BEST PRACTICES: Choose the 2-3 spots you feel are the strongest and rotate them regularly and consistently throughout your fundraising campaign - at least once every other hour. Using this OES strategy, your listeners will hear the most powerful messages enough times for them to resonate and inspire action.

FUNDER MESSAGE RUNDOWN, TRANSCRIPT and TIMINGS

Music: Vaughan Williams "Lark Ascending"

Intro: For some performers, it's not all about the applause and the prestige of playing on the great concert stages of the world. For violinist Hilary Hahn, it's all about you.

Hilary Hahn Clip: "I would really like people to just enjoy the music, and maybe get away from their daily lives a little bit or, have a chance to sit and think in peace and quiet. I think it's rare these days that people have a chance to just be someplace where there are very few distractions."

Outro: Give something back to your Public Radio station so performers like Hilary Hahn can continue to give you the peace and enjoyment of classical music everyday. Please make a contribution. (Text out at 0:46)

SUGGESTED LIVE HOST OUTRO

Please call (insert station phone number), or make your contribution online at (insert station web address). Classical music on (insert station name) is made possible by your financial support. Please call now....

Music....to 0:59

(To download a .txt file of the suggested copy for each of these three options, click on the Attachments tab above.)

Additional fundraising messages are available from Virtuoso Voices(tm), an interview clip service for classical music stations, presenting today's preeminent classical music performers, conductors and composers talking in 15 to 35 second sound bites. These topical and evergreen clips enable announcers to bring an additional insider's perspective to the music they introduce and play on their shifts.

Virtuoso Voices(tm) is also Public Radio's primary source for classical music fundraising messages. Each month, subscribing stations receive at least two different fundraising spots read by the performers we interview. Twice a year, we provide your station with fully produced fundraising messages with options enabling you to customize each spot to the specific sound and fundraising terminology of your station.

The produced fundraising messages are distributed in February and September in advance of when most stations fundraise, including the nationally coordinated drive. Stations may request custom fundraising scripts read by the performers we interview. We fill these requests whenever possible and in the order in which they are received.

WHAT IS VIRTUOSO VOICES™?

Virtuoso Voices™ is a performer interview service that provides short interview segments to radio stations, their websites and other online platforms.

Virtuoso Voices provides stations with a new strategy for presenting classical music on the radio by directly involving the performer in the introduction of the music. These topical and evergreen clips enable announcers to bring an additional insider's perspective to the music they introduce and play on their shifts.

Program content is taken from interviews with internationally recognized classical music performers, such as Gil Shaham, Yo-Yo Ma, Marin Alsop, Lorin Maazel, Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn and Michael Tilson Thomas.

For more information and to see additional ways to use these clips, please visit our website, www.virtuosovoices.org.

Virtuoso Voices™ Fundraising Service

Virtuoso Voices(tm) is also Public Radio's primary source for classical music fundraising messages.

Please visit the fundraising page of our website for examples and further information. www.virtuosovoices.org/fundraising.

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Spots for On Air Fund Drive 1. Mike Singley - Listening to Afro Pop on Friday evenings in his law firm 2. Ray Benson - KUT has always been there, turned him on to Darden Smith 3. Amber Roland - Hearing Bob Edwards for the first time gave information like she'd never heard before. Fell in love with public radio 4. Lauren Cole - Mozart's Birthday 5. Lydia Agraz - Found Horizontes and Latino USA on KUT and fell in love 6. Austinites discuss what's essential about Austin 7. Austinites discuss what they love about Austin

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WUWF had the challenge of asking for support shortly after Hurricane Ivan when so much of their community had been devastated. This is a tricky thing to do. Spots 5,6, and 7 are great examples of finding people in the community who can tell the story of how important the station is in times of crisis.

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WGBH jazz fan Mark Paskind talks about the spiritual aspect of John Coltrane's music, specifically in A Love Supreme, and what that piece of music does for him on a personal level. He also talks about the importance of hearing this music on public radio. Concludes with a call to action, to contribute to WGBH.

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Tips for Pledge Drive Production

In an Advanced Production for On-Air Fundraising webinar Jay Clayton, DEI's Individual Giving Coordinator and Ingrid Lakey, PRX's Fundraising Soundbank Curator, talked about various aspects of why and how to use production in pledge drives. In this section you'll find examples of production that illustrate these points. Click here to view/listen to the webinar.

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Some stations are using produced spots for some or all of their premiums. This can be especially useful for CDs since you can take a show don't tell approach by playing various cuts instead of listening to the live pitcher just read you the names of the songs.

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Let’s face it. There’s not a lot to say about tote bags. So WNYC found a clever approach to generating excitement about its bag by focusing on what not to use it for. The bag, by the way, is consistently one of the most popular thank you gifts at the station.

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One of the things WNYC is really consistent about is making their pledge production sound like their station, in other words, during a pledge drive, they don't turn into a different station. A major focus of WNYC is to reflect the culture and sensibilities of their community. They do this in their pledge production as well as you'll hear in this spot.

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Public Radio makes good use of sound and takes full advantage of the medium of radio in much of its best reporting and storytelling. Here’s an example of a spot from WNYC and Radiolab’s Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich that extends the effective use of sound to remind listeners why they value public radio and why it’s worthy of their financial support.

Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, hosts of Radio Lab, talk about a show for the new season about laughter and how it takes time and money to pull their kind of show together. They end with a invitation to make a pledge to WNYC.

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Many stations are hungry for new contributors, often overlooking that their best prospects are their existing contributors, those who don’t renew their support, but could. Here’s a clever spot from WNYC and Studio 360s Kurt Anderson that reminds listeners to renew their support, emphasizing that it’s a: important, b: easy, and c: something they should do right now, while they’re thinking about it.

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The message here is made simple, but there’s a lot going on. In one well-executed spot WNYC’s Jad Abumrad reminds listeners that they rely on the station, that their listening is worthy of their financial support and that a contribution is affordable.

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Ira Glass has proven time after time that listeners respond when we lighten up our fundraising messages. It’s not always easy to do, but WNYC came up with a clever approach to reminding listeners that it’s time to give, pure and simple.

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The writing and Jay Allison's delivery make this piece work as humor and also as fundraising material. The premise of the spot could fall flat if not executed well. A witty idea is not enough so be brutal if you try something and it doesn't work...either try again with different on-air talent, rewrite it, or be willing to admit if you can't really make it work even if you loved the idea of it.

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NPR Fundraising Archive

NPR has combed through its vast collection of fundraising spots and segments and selected pieces that a) stand the test of time and b) are great pledge content. So NPR stations - dig in! These are here for your use!

Bob Duncan is known around NPR headquarters as the man with a very important connection to NPR reporters overseas.We listen in as he runs interference on a story from Rachel Martin in Baghdad.

How many reporters, producers, editors and engineers does it take to make great radio?The production chain is complicated and time consuming.It is also expensive.NPR reporters are the most self sufficient in the business, especially when compared to TV and other media who travel with extensive staff, camera men, sound men.

It takes people like Bob Duncan to make sure that every reporter is equipped and ready to venture out to bring us the story.Duncan makes sure the reporter has his or her own sat phone, cell phone, laptop, wireless connection, power, and working equipment.Duncan works around the clock so we can send out reporters with the confidence that they will be able to make their deadlines and send their stories home.